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We were right to close Vanity’s Crossing says the Gubbmint

Territory and Municipal Services are letting it be known that their decision to close Vanity’s Crossing was completely the right one:

It’s been six months since the permanent closure of Vanity’s Crossing over the Cotter River in the Lower Cotter Catchment and the landscape is already reaping the benefits.

“The river and surrounding environment have shown signs of improvement and regeneration since the closure,” Operations Manager, National Parks and Catchments, ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Brett McNamara said today.

“There has been a significant improvement in the dumping of vehicles and rubbish, broken bottles and human waste.

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“Native flora has already started to return to the banks of the Cotter River at Vanity’s Crossing and there has been a noticeable reduction in localised erosion in the area.”

Mr McNamara said Vanity’s Crossing was permanently closed on 6 February 2012 to protect the ACT’s drinking water supply.

“The ACT Government’s decision to permanently close Vanity’s Crossing followed advice from ACTEW Water and was a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of contamination or an event which could make the Cotter Reservoir unusable as a source of drinking water.

Another win for the padlock brigade. There is some beautiful country up there … but since you cannot go near it you will just have to take my word for it.

Up where exactly? Even with Vanity’s closed the area is ringed by roads that mean that you are only a short hike from any part of the locked off area. In the northern part west of Cotter Dam you can’t get more than 3km from a road anywhere. In the southern part the Tidbinbilla Rd, Mt. Frankin Rd, Brindabella Rd and Tid Nature Reserve Road mean that the furthest you can get from a road is about 4-5km and in any event closing Vanity’s has not changed that.

If you want to see the entire area north of Corin Dam, a deadly treadly will get you to most places in 15-20 minutes after you park your car. Warks Road, Pipeline Rd, Yellow Rabbit Rd, Bullock Paddock Rd and Burkes Creek Rd. all provide comparatively easy riding.

I don’t think this is the most spectacular country anyway… the area southwest of there around Bendora Arboretum, further SE around Smoker’s and then the southern part of Namadgi are probably the pick of it. Even there access is pretty good with the exception of the wilderness area (fair enough).